Antiseptic dip tank apparatus

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a novel antiseptic dip tank apparatus for assisting in the raising of animals in sterile surroundings. The apparatus includes a means for conveying an animal feed container from a non-sterile environment, through a disinfecting bath and into a sterile environment. The apparatus further includes means for conveying said container in an upright manner through the disinfectant bath. The container is maintained upright by a traveling tray means which is kept level by a parallelogram linkage.

United States Patent Schuck et al. Sept. 2, 1975 ANTISEPTIC DIP TANK APPARATUS 3,195,505 7/1965 Hauth et a1, 119 17 3,302,615 21 T' 11 [76] Inventors: Ludwig J. Schuck, Sauerbruchstr. 967 letje 9/15 10; Rudolf Daniel, Minorstr. 1 1, both of 8 un ch any Primary Exammer-Hugh Chamblee Attorney, Agent, or FirmO1mri M. Behr [22] Filed: June 10, 1974 [21] App]. No.: 477,867 [57] ABSTRACT Disclosed is a novel antiseptic dip tank apparatus for [30] Foreign Application Priority Data assisting in the raising of animals in sterile surround- June 16, 1973 Germany 2330747 ings- The apparatus includes a means for Conveying an animal feed container from a non-sterile environment, 52 U5. (:1. 119/15; 128/1 B through a disinfecting bath and into a Sterile environ- 51 lm. c1. A01K 29/00 ment- The apparatus further includes means for [58] Field of Search 119/15, 17; 128/1 R, 1 B veying Said container in an upright manner through the disinfectant bath. The container is maintained up- [56] References Cited right by a traveling tray means which is kept level by a UNITED STATES PATENTS Parallebgram linkage- 2,703,57O 3/1955 Young, Jr. 128/1 R 11 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ANTISEPTIC DIP TANK APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an apparatus for conveying articles from a non-sterile environment, through a disinfectant dip bath and into a sterile environment.

2. Description of the Prior Art The study of development of certain pathogenic conditions requires the raising of test animals in strictly sterile surroundings in order to provide control conditions. One of the problems associated with such procedures is the feeding of the animals. It is well known how to produce bacteriologically sterile animal feed-suffs and to package these in a manner in which the sterility is maintained within the package. The problem is that the exterior of of the package becomes rapidly contaminated and it is necessary to remove the exterior contaminant before introducing the package into a sterile atmosphere. Such decontamination is traditionally carried out by causing the packages to be moved from the non-sterile to the sterile area through a barrier of disinfectant material typically a disinfectant fluid. According to the design of equipment known in the prior art, packages are placed in a container in an opening above the level of the disinfectant fluid and moved through the disinfectant fluid into the sterile area wherein the disinfectant fluid itself forms a barrier between the sterile and non-sterile areas. In such apparatus the carrier for the packages may comprise a sieve-like basket attached to the pivoted arm.

In operation the food-stuff packages are loaded into the basket and the basket is moved through the disinfectant fluid by, for example, a hand driven winch. On the sterile side, the disinfectant fluid drips out of the basket and the packages are removed. During the passage of the packages through the disinfectant bath, the packages slide along the bottom surface of the bath.

It has been found that this sliding causes damage to the packing material which, of course. can cause con tamination of the feeding materials by the disinfectant. It has been suggested that in place of an opened basket there be utilized a closed basket. Unfortunately. this suggestion has not met with success due to damage caused to the packaging material by the tumbling action of the packages over one another and abrasion with the inner surface of the basket.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a means for passing sealed sterile feed stuff packages through a disinfectant barrier without friction or tumbling damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the apparatus of the present invention there is provided a transport means for the food packages which includes a horizontal platform or tray which lies parallel to the upper surface of the disinfectant fluid. This platform is provided with a parallelogram linkage means for moving it through the disinfectant fluid While maintaining it in horizontal orientation. That is to say, the platform remains parallel to the upper surface of the disinfectant fluid throughout the entire immersion of said platform in the disinfectant fluid. This invention leads to the greatest preservation of the materials sent through the disinfectant lock and prevents harm from mechanical and abrasive shock. One or more packages or containers may be loaded onto the platform on the non-sterile side of the lock, the lock is then closed and the platform moves through the disinfectant fluid suitably by means of an electric motor. thereby the packages are immersed in the tank and delivered on the sterile side above the level of the disinfectant fluid while the platform is maintained in a horizontal manner. It is generally preferred that the carrier comprises a horizontal platform which is coupled to a parallelogram linkage. This is a simple and reliable construction which may be readily driven by a motor. The axles of the parallelogram coupling are connected to the platform by means of at least one pair of L-shaped connected links or levers. Said levers are rigidly connected to the aforesaid axles and rotably connected to the platform via a bearing means passing between the platform and the links. The principal axes of the said L-shaped links are mutually parallel throughout its travel. It should be noted however that a line joining the bearings connecting said links is not parallel to the principal axis of either of said axles.

The said axles are so oriented that they may be driven at the same speed in the same direction of rotation by a single rotating drive means.

There is thus given a simple, cheap and reliable antiseptic dip tank apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an effective antiseptic dip tank in which the article to be transferred is maintained in a level position throughout the dipping process. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood upon a reading of the following specification taken in view of the attached drawings wherein:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevated view of the entire installation showing in phantom outline aspects of the system not seen from the outside of the apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a cross section of' the apparatus of FIG. I viewed in the plane 2-2.

FIG. 3 is a downward perspective view of a schematic representation of the drive system for the carrier platform of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1-3 show different views of the entire installation. According to a preferred embodiment, there is provided a disinfecting dip tank apparatus 1 passing through an isolating wall 2 which separates the sterile and non-sterile areas. Each area may be observed from the other through window 3 which is set in said wall 2 above tank 1. The tank 1 is provided with a charge opening 4 in the non-sterile zone and a discharge opening 5 in the sterile zone. Openings 4 and 5 may be closed off by shutters or doors 6 and 7 respectively, which, in the preferred embodiment, also serve as shelves in their opened position as shown in FIG. 1 upon which the items to be passed through the tank may be placed.

Inside the tank, located below wall 2 is an internal partition wall 30 extending downwards to a level slightly below the lowest point of openings 4 and 5. The tank is charged with a disinfecting fluid bath 8 to a level such that the lower end of partition 30 is immersed under the'surface thereof whereby the air of the sterile zone is totally noncommunicating with the air of the non-sterile zone.

lnside tank 1 there is provided a movable platform or tray 9 having attached thereto at bearing points 31 and 32 the parallel L-shaped links 10 and 11 respectively. The links are attached to the tray by bearings not shown in the illustrated views. The other ends of links 10 and 11 are attached to parallel axle rods 12 and 13 by clamping means 40 and 41 respectively. Bearing points 31 and 32 are located so as to be nonequidistant from a predetermined edge of tray 9 where said predetermined edge is parallel to the principal axes of axles 12 or 13.

Axles 12 and 13 have affixed to one end thereof adjacent but not mutually contacting gear wheels 14 and respectively. Composite gear wheel 35 comprising inner geared section 16 and outer section 36 is located proximate to gear wheels 14 and 15 so that the teeth of wheel portion 16 interact with both gear wheels 14 and 15. There is further provided a drive means 17, suitably a reversible electric motor, and a drive connecting means 37, suitably a drive belt. The drive means 37 is attached to portion 36 of composite gear 35. The entire drive mechanism comprising gears 14, 15, 35, connecting means 37 and drive means 17, are located in housing 18 which in turn is adjacent to tank 1 on the nonsterile portion of the system. According to a preferred embodiment the drive means 17 may be a reversible, electric, vari-speed motor. For simplicity sake, the combination of links 10 and 11, clamps 40 and 41, axle rods 12 and 13, gear wheels 14 and 15, composite gear 35 and connecting means 37 may be referred to as a transport means.

The container 21 comprises, for example, a tray 42 and a lid 43 constructed of wire mesh placed upon said tray 42. Container 21 is optionally equipped with wheels or rollers 22 to facilitate the movement of container 21 from closing means 6 to platform 9. On two opposite sides, the tray 42 is provided with spring loaded clamps 44 to secure the lid to the tray. Platform 9 is further provided with raised sidewalls 47 and the rim of the tray 42 is also provided with spring loaded pins 45 which will pop into a detent or opening 46 in each sidewall 47 when the container 21 is moved onto platform 9. Pins 45 and openings 46 serve to prevent the container from floating off the platform 9 during the dipping stage. This has a tendency to occur when the container 21 is charged with materials having a propensity to float.

During the process of disinfection, the tightly sealable closing means 6 on the contaminated side of the apparatus is opened and the container 21 placed thereupon. Container 21 is then pushed from closing means 6 onto platform 9 whereby the pins 45 engage in detents 46 to anchor container 21 to platform 9. With the container 21 resting upon platform 9, the closing means 6 is closed and motor 17 is activated. Platform 9 then moves downwardly but in a horizontal attitude until container 21 is entirely emerged in the disenfectant fluid. Platform 9 is then raised upwardly towards the sterile side until it comes to rest opposite the sterile opening 5 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The closing means 7 on the sterile side is then opened; the container 21 is removed; and the disinfectant goods may then be removed therefrom.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been shown it will be appreciated that some modifications will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. For instance, it will be appreciated that with a tray 42 made from sufficiently heavy material. the pins and detents can be dispensed with.

According to another embodiment, not shown, the linkage means may be provided with an additional link on each side of the tray in order to improve lateral and vertical stability. In other words, there would beprovided two parallel links on each side instead of the one link on each side version as shown in FIGS. 1-3.

In a general manner, while there has been disclosed effective and efficient embodiments of the invention, it should be well understood that the invention is not limited to such embodiments as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition, and form of the parts ,without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the accompanying claims.

We claim:

1. An antiseptic clip tank apparatus comprising,

a tank means having a disinfectant fluid bath located therein.

a partition means extending into the surface of said disinfectant fluid bath and dividing said tank into a sterile and a non-sterile area,

a level platform means,

a transport means connected to said platform means and to said tank means, said transport means including a parallelogram-type linkage for maintaining said platform means substantially parallel to the surface of said bath during transport, and

a drive means operatively connected to said transport means,

wherein actuation of said drive means causes said platform means to travel from the vacinity of one area through the disinfectant bath and into the vacinity of the other area, said platform means maintaining a parallel relationship with respect to the surface of said bath substantially throughout the course of its travel.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein,

said level platform means comprises a tray,

said transport means includes a first and second axle rod, said axle rods being substantially parallel one to the other and free to rotate, and

said parallelogram linkage includes a first and second parallel link means pivotably attached to said tray, the other ends of said link means each being connected to one of said first and second axle rods,

wherein the plane defined by the tray is substantially parallel to the plane defined by the first and second axle rods, but wherein the line between the two points of pivotal attachment is non-parallel to the axis of either axle rod.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said transport means includes a gear means for transmitting rotary motion to said axle rods,

said gear means comprising,

a first gear wheel connected to one end of said first axle rod,

a secondgear wheel connected to one end of said second axle rod, said second gear wheel being asso ciated in a non-contacting relationship with said first gear wheel, and

a common gear wheel in operative contact with both gear wheels wherein said common gear wheel receives rotary power from said drive means.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said common gear wheel is the inner section of a composite gear wheel having at least one inner and one outer section, said outer section being connected to said drive means by a flexible type connecting means.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said drive means is a reversible electric motor.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said links are L- shaped and wherein the short section of said L-shaped link is connected to said tray and the long section is connected to said axle rods by means of a clamp.

7. An antiseptic dip tank apparatus comprising, into a tank means having a disinfectant fluid bath located therein,

a partition means extending into the surface of said disinfectant fluid bath and dividing said tank in to a sterile and a non-sterile area, said sterile and said non-sterile area each having associated therewith a hood means for protecting them from the environment, each of said hood means having an opening therein associated with a closing means, said closing means comprising,

a flat door section, and

a hinge means attached to said door section, and to said tank means, said hinge means being openable only to about 90 of an arc whereby said closing means serves as an opening closure in the vertical position and when in a horizontal position, serves as a shelf. said apparatus further comprising:

a level platform means,

a transport means connected to said platform means and to said tank means, said transport means including means for maintaining said platform means substantially parallel to the surface of said bath during transport, and

a drive means operatively connected to said transport means,

wherein actuation of said drive means causes said platform means to travel from the vicinity of one area through the disinfectant bath and into the vicinity of the other area, said platform means maintaining a parallel relationship with respect to the surface of said bath substantially throughout the course of the travel.

8. The invention of claim 2 wherein said apparatus further includes.

at least one container, said container including rollers on the bottom thereof,

whereby said container may be rolled off said closing means when in the horizontal shelf position and onto said tray with a minimum of effort.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said container comprises at least:

a tray means to which said rollers are attached; and

a wire mesh lid means for covering said tray.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said container further comprises spring loaded clamp means attached to said tray means, said clamp means serving to secure said lid means to said tray means.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein said apparatus further includes at least one locking means for securing said container to said platform means comprising:

a spring loaded pin means housed in said container tray means; and

a pin receiving detent in said platform means,

wherein said pin means will pop into said detent and secure the container to said platform means when said container is propelled from said closing means 

1. An antiseptic dip tank apparatus comprising, a tank means having a disinfectant fluid bath locAted therein, a partition means extending into the surface of said disinfectant fluid bath and dividing said tank into a sterile and a non-sterile area, a level platform means, a transport means connected to said platform means and to said tank means, said transport means including a parallelogram-type linkage for maintaining said platform means substantially parallel to the surface of said bath during transport, and a drive means operatively connected to said transport means, wherein actuation of said drive means causes said platform means to travel from the vacinity of one area through the disinfectant bath and into the vacinity of the other area, said platform means maintaining a parallel relationship with respect to the surface of said bath substantially throughout the course of its travel.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein, said level platform means comprises a tray, said transport means includes a first and second axle rod, said axle rods being substantially parallel one to the other and free to rotate, and said parallelogram linkage includes a first and second parallel link means pivotably attached to said tray, the other ends of said link means each being connected to one of said first and second axle rods, wherein the plane defined by the tray is substantially parallel to the plane defined by the first and second axle rods, but wherein the line between the two points of pivotal attachment is non-parallel to the axis of either axle rod.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said transport means includes a gear means for transmitting rotary motion to said axle rods, said gear means comprising, a first gear wheel connected to one end of said first axle rod, a second gear wheel connected to one end of said second axle rod, said second gear wheel being associated in a non-contacting relationship with said first gear wheel, and a common gear wheel in operative contact with both gear wheels wherein said common gear wheel receives rotary power from said drive means.
 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said common gear wheel is the inner section of a composite gear wheel having at least one inner and one outer section, said outer section being connected to said drive means by a flexible type connecting means.
 5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said drive means is a reversible electric motor.
 6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said links are L-shaped and wherein the short section of said L-shaped link is connected to said tray and the long section is connected to said axle rods by means of a clamp.
 7. An antiseptic dip tank apparatus comprising, into a tank means having a disinfectant fluid bath located therein, a partition means extending into the surface of said disinfectant fluid bath and dividing said tank in to a sterile and a non-sterile area, said sterile and said non-sterile area each having associated therewith a hood means for protecting them from the environment, each of said hood means having an opening therein associated with a closing means, said closing means comprising, a flat door section, and a hinge means attached to said door section, and to said tank means, said hinge means being openable only to about 90* of an arc whereby said closing means serves as an opening closure in the vertical position and when in a horizontal position, serves as a shelf, said apparatus further comprising: a level platform means, a transport means connected to said platform means and to said tank means, said transport means including means for maintaining said platform means substantially parallel to the surface of said bath during transport, and a drive means operatively connected to said transport means, wherein actuation of said drive means causes said platform means to travel from the vicinity of one area through the disinfectant bath and into the vicinity of the other area, said platform means maintaining a parallel relationship With respect to the surface of said bath substantially throughout the course of the travel.
 8. The invention of claim 2 wherein said apparatus further includes, at least one container, said container including rollers on the bottom thereof, whereby said container may be rolled off said closing means when in the horizontal shelf position and onto said tray with a minimum of effort.
 9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said container comprises at least: a tray means to which said rollers are attached; and a wire mesh lid means for covering said tray.
 10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said container further comprises spring loaded clamp means attached to said tray means, said clamp means serving to secure said lid means to said tray means.
 11. The invention of claim 10 wherein said apparatus further includes at least one locking means for securing said container to said platform means comprising: a spring loaded pin means housed in said container tray means; and a pin receiving detent in said platform means, wherein said pin means will pop into said detent and secure the container to said platform means when said container is propelled from said closing means onto said platform. 